A poem, by Tricia Bates Smith, 7-31-2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You left when I was so small, leaving a bitter mother and a loss of childhood. \nHe\u2019s no good was all I heard said of you. \nI worked so hard to make up for being your daughter. \nI didn\u2019t like you, but still I wanted you to come back to me.<\/pre>\n\n\n\nBy the grace of God, I made it through childhood, \nfound a good man, and soon had children of my own. \nThe tough questions came from my little ones \u2013 where\u2019s grandpa? \nI acted like I hated you. But, deep inside, I wanted you to come back to me.<\/pre>\n\n\n\nI grew strong as a woman of faith, with great Love for Christ Jesus. \nI sat in religious classes and learned of forgiveness. \nI thought of you often, but could only bring myself to indifference. \nYou were the deep pain that could be healed, only if you came back to me.<\/pre>\n\n\n\nNow I\u2019ve taken to my bed as I near the end of this life. \nI pray to God for mercy and to bring me peace. \nThis body holds on, it feels as though things are unfinished. \nI thought you were behind me, but my soul says to call you back to me.<\/pre>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m ready Daddy. I\u2019ve done all of the things I should with this life. \nIn my dreams you are there looking so different from who I saw. \nYour smile so broad and bright as you stride along the sidewalk toward me to take me home. \nI am ready to Love \u2026 now that you have come back to me.<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A poem, by Tricia Bates Smith, 7-31-2023 You left when I was so small, leaving a bitter mother and a loss of childhood. He\u2019s no good was all I heard said of you. I worked so hard to make up … Continue reading